Luke 1
1 My noble [friend] Theophilus, many people saw the things that [Jesus] did while he was with us, from the time when he started [MTY] [his ministry]. They served God [by teaching people] the message [about the Lord Jesus]. Many of those who heard what they taught wrote down for us accounts of the things that [Jesus did from the time when] he began [his ministry].
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message.
3 I myself have studied these accounts carefully. So I decided that it would be good for me also to write for you [(sg)] an accurate account of these matters.
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
5 When King Herod [the Great ruled] Judea [district], there was a [Jewish] priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the [group of priests called] the Abijah group. He and his wife Elizabeth were both descended from the [first priest of Israel], Aaron.
In the reign of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 [God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 One day [Zechariah’s] group was doing their work [in the Temple in Jerusalem], and he was serving as a priest in God’s presence.
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Then an angel whom God had [sent] appeared to him. The angel was standing at the right side of the place [where the priests burned] incense.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you [(sg)] prayed [asking God for a son] (OR, [that God would send the Messiah]), God heard what you prayed. [So] your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. You must name him John.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, [in order that he will be completely dedicated to God]. He will be controlled by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit will control him} from before he is born.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 As [God’s] Spirit enables him [to preach] powerfully as [the prophet] Elijah did, he will precede [the Messiah]. He will cause parents [SYN] to act [peacefully] toward their children [again]. He will cause [many] people who do not obey [God to hear and obey] the wise things that righteous people [tell them]. He will do this in order to help [many] people to be ready when the Lord [comes].”
He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “I am very old, and my wife is also so old [that she cannot bear a child. So] (I cannot [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]!/how can I [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]?) [RHQ]”
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 Then the angel said to him, “I am [God’s chief angel], Gabriel! [I do what God tells me, because] I constantly am in God’s presence! I was sent {[He] sent me} to tell you [(sg)] something good [that is going to happen to you].
“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 What I have told you will certainly happen at the time [God decides], but you did not believe what I told you. So now [God will make] you will be unable to talk until the day [your son is born]”!
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”
21 While [Zechariah and the angel] were talking, the people [in the courtyard] were waiting for Zechariah [to come out]. They wondered, “Why is he staying in the Temple for such a long time?”
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 When Zechariah came out, he was not able to speak to the people. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands [to try to convey what had happened]. Then they realized that he had seen (a vision [from God]/something that [God] showed him) while he was in the Temple.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant [EUP]. She did not leave their house for five months, [because she knew that people would laugh at her if she told them that she was pregnant].
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 But she thought, “God has enabled me to become pregnant. He has pitied me and I will no longer be ashamed [because I have no children]!”
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”
26 When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 [This time] he went to Nazareth [town] in Galilee [district], to a virgin whose name was Mary. It had been {[Her parents] had} promised that she would marry a man named Joseph, who was descended from [King] David.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 The angel greeted her and said, “(The Lord/God) is with you [(sg)] and you will be greatly blessed {[has decided to] greatly bless you}!”
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.”
29 But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 He will become great. He will be called {[People will] call him} (the Son of God/the man who is also God). God, the Lord, will make him a king [MTY] as his ancestor [King] David was.
The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
33 He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come to you; the power of God [MTY/EUP] will overshadow you [and enable you to become pregnant]. So the child [you will] bear will be completely set apart {give himself completely} to obey God, and he will be called {[people] will say that he is} (the Son of God/the man who is also God).
“The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 [I also need to tell you something else]. Your cousin Elizabeth is very old, and it was thought {[people] said} that she could not bear any children. But she has been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, and will bear a son!
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 [You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”
38 Then Mary said, “All right, I want to serve (the Lord/God), so may what you [(sg)] have said about me come true!” Then the angel left her.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary. “Let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and she said loudly [to Mary], “[God] has blessed you [more than] he has blessed [any other] woman, and [he has] blessed the child you will bear!
and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 (I am not worthy that [God would allow you] to visit me!/Why is [God allowing you] to visit me?) [RHQ] You will be the mother of my Lord!
But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 [I realize this because] as soon as I heard you greet me, the baby inside my womb moved because he was so happy [that you had come].
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 [God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
and my spirit delights in God my Savior,
48 I was only his lowly servant girl, but he did not forget me. So from now on, everyone will say that God was pleased with me,
for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
“For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
“Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
55 He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how (the Lord/God) had greatly blessed her [by enabling her to bear a child], so they were happy along with [Elizabeth].
and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Seven days later they gathered together for the [ceremony for] circumcising the baby [to show that he belonged to God]. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”
61 [So] they said to her, “[John] is not the name of any of your [(dl)] relatives, [so you(dl) should not give him that name]!”
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 Then they made motions with their hands to Zechariah, [for him] to indicate what name [he] wanted to be given {to give} to his son.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 [So] he signaled that they [should give him] a tablet [to write on. When they gave him one], he wrote [on it], “His name is John.” All those [who were there] were surprised!
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised
64 Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking about it. They were saying, “We wonder what will this child do [for God when] he [grows up] [RHQ]!” They wondered that because [from what had happened they were sure that] God would be helping that child [SYN] [in a powerful way].
All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another – “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 [After] Zechariah’s [son was born], Zechariah was completely directed by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit completely directed Zechariah} as he spoke these words that came from God:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “Praise the Lord, the God whom we(inc) people of Israel worship, because he has come to set us, his people, free from our enemies.
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 He will do this because he has not forgotten what he promised our ancestors; he made an agreement that he would act mercifully to us, their descendants.
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 God told him that we would be rescued {he would rescue us} from the power of our enemies, that he would enable us to serve him without being afraid,
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 [Then Zechariah said this to] his little son: “My child, you will be called {people will say that you are} a prophet whom God [MTY/EUP] has sent; you will begin your work before (the Lord/Messiah) comes; you will prepare people so that they will be ready for him. (OR, you will begin your work before the Messiah comes).
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Our God will do that because he is very kind to us. Just like a new day begins when the sun rises [MET], God will do that new thing for us when the Messiah comes to us from heaven.
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 People who do not know God [MET] are like those who sit in the darkness. They are afraid [MTY] that they will soon die. But when the Messiah tells us God’s message, it will be like causing such people to see a bright light. He will guide us [SYN] so that we will be living peacefully.”
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 [Later], Zechariah’s son grew up and became spiritually strong. Then he lived in a desolate region until he began to preach to the Israeli people.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
